How do I produce a DIY video?

I was asked for info on how to produce videos easily, quickly and cheaply.

I asked my network for resources and we had a bit of a discussion about not being able to have cheap, fast and good but eventually agreed that although DIY videos are not going to have the same quality as those that are professionally produced, there is a place for them.

These are the resources that were flagged up:

Helen Lindop: I’m adding exactly those kinds of tutorials to my YouTube channel if that helps? Lots more to come (I’m asking people what they want before I make the videos) but here’s the channel www.youtube.com/user/helenlindop

Suzie Rice: Audrie Reed of BM video media gives practical DIY video workshops and can setup Youtube channel etc for you. I highly recommend it – I used to have lists of videos I was going to make and they stayed on a list. Now, I whip the camera out and bam, it’s done. BM Video Media

Simon Hagan:Go Vocal Mediaare running a special scheme following on from my “low-cost video” project I mentioned earlier this year. It’s called Talking Heads and we will be offering professional filming of pieces-to-camera at Madingley Hall, Cambridge on 22 September for a special offer price of £99 + vat.
This aims to bridge the gap between trying to do it yourself and paying for a full scale video.
For that you’ll get an hour’s filming of a piece or pieces to camera and edited to web-ready format to go straight on your site and you won’t have to go to trouble of learning how to film and what camera to buy. We’ll also help you to look good on camera and feel relaxed and confident 🙂

I’m jumping the gun slightly, as we haven’t got our full publicity materials worked out yet. Anyone who’s interested please let me know simon@govocalmedia.comand I’ll be sure to send you full details when it’s ready. If this is popular, it may become a regular event.

Simon Hagan: For people who are keen to learn, I’d recommend James Wedmore on YouTube. His tutorials are good at combining the business case for video and the techniques and he has a nice easy to follow style.

Karen Cann: A few tips for beginners, I wrote this a while back: I want to create a video for my business but where do I start? | Karen Cann Video

Matt Widgery: From the 100+ YouTube videos I’ve produced for my channel Matt Widgery Photographyand the 3 years I ran a film production company I would boil it down to the following:1. Gear

Any camera will do
Get a separate mic though
Any mic will do

2. Post production

Editing is everything. Cut your work down to the absolute bare essentials and then see what else you can cut out

3. Content

Make sure you are telling a story with a beginning, middle and end. Don’t skip any of these steps even if your video is a 30 sec commercial.

If you keep only these things in mind next time you make a video you will make one 100x better than most of the shite that gets put out there and you will start gaining eyeballs.

Thanks to everyone for their help. If you’ve got other tips or resources, please leave a comment below or add your video for us to see!